Control handle with encompassing storage groove



N. E. LKER CONTROL HANDLE WITH ENCOMPASSING STORAGE GROOVE Filed May 2, 1952 JNVENTOR.

CONTROL HANDLE WITH ENCOMPASSING STORAGE GROOVE Neville E. Walker, Portland, Greg, assignor to American .innior Aircraft Company, Portland, Oreg., a corporation of Oregon Application May 2, 1952, Serial No. 285,661

4 Claims. (Cl. 242-97) My invention relates to a combination control handle and storage device for use with a captive-type miniature airplane, the handle portion being useful to control the flight pattern of the airplane and the storage portion being useful to store the control lines or wires therefor upon completion of a flight or when the device is not in use. More particularly, the control handle of the instant invention is an improvement upon the handle which is disclosed in my previous United States Patent No. 2,292,416, entitled Controlled Captive Type Toy Airplane.

The above noted patent describes the manner in which a captive-type, self-propelled miniature airplane is guided during flight by a pair of control lines. Briefly, these control lines are joined, at one end, to the elevators of the airplane and, at the other end, to a control handle having a hand grip portion. When the control handle is pivoted or tilted so that one control line is shortened with respect to the other, the elevators of the miniature airplane are manipulated to vary the flight pattern and to cause the airplane to ascend or descend as the case may be.

Since application was made for the above identified patent, the control handle thereof has found wide commercial acceptance in the miniature airplane field. Subsequent to said application, however, improvements in miniature airplanes per se and in the miniature engines which drive the same have changed somewhat the operating conditions under which a control handle must be utilized. For example, one such change is in the control wire per se, a seven-strand steel wire of superior strength now being required and another change is in the engine and in the aerodynamic design of the airplane, much faster flights now being possible. Thus, a first improvement and inventive object of the instant invention is born of these changed conditions, such an object being to provide a control handle which is more practical and simple than heretofore known.

To appreciate the improvements serving the first object of my invention, it must be remembered that a control handle for a miniature airplane carries two spaced control points, each of said control points having one of the seven-strand steel control Wires leading therefrom to the miniature airplane. Further, because of the inherent nature of the steel control wire, connection of the end thereof to one of the spaced control points of the handle is diflicult. Thus, the wire should not be tied to the handle with an ordinary knot because such a knot produces a kink likely to sever the wire when a strong pulling force is exerted thereon during flight. Secondly, the end of the wire should not be frayed nor should it be exposed adjacent the handle since the strand ends are very sharp and are likely to scratch or cut the hand it thus exposed.

To overcome the above difliculties and to provide a control handle for a miniature airplane in which the end of each control wire is accommodated without kinking or knotting the Wire and without exposing the sharp end nited States Patent thereof is a first objective of my invention. To this end, the instant device carries a pair of laterally protruding snouts which are spaced one from another at opposite ends of the control handle and together define spaced control points. Each of these snouts is pierced by an elongated lateral tunnel which extends through the handle member and terminates in an enlarged recess. Each control wire, in turn, is formed with a terminal bight secured within a corresponding one of the enlarged recesses by means of a U-shaped retention tube. Thus, the U-shaped tube is deformable and it encircles the bight portion of the control wire within the corresponding enlarged recess, the overall width of the tube being greater than the width of the corresponding tunnel to prevent movement of the wire through the tunnel when a strong pulling force is exerted thereon. Further, because of the deformable nature of the retention tube, a strong grip upon the end of the control wire more easily can be effected. In this manner, the end of the control wire completely is enclosed within a tunnel formed in the handle member and it is not necessary to tie a knot in the wire or to employ nails or other fastening devices.

A second object of my invention is to provide a storage device for the control handle utilized in flying a captive-type miniature airplane. As a corollary to this inventive object, the instant invention provides a combination control handle and storage device which can be fabricated at a minimal cost in order to be competitive with the great number of control handles now on the market. Thus, the control handle of my previous United States Patent No. 2,292,416 makes no provision for storage of the control wires when they are not in use. At the same time, the control handle of my United States Patent No. 2,406,874 does provide a rotatable drum upon which the control lines may be wound. However, this latter structure is substantially more complex and more expensive to fabricate than the instant invention. Accordingly, the storage device of the present control handle is an improvement over the device disclosed in the latter patent.

In service of the above inventive object, I prefer to form my control handle and storage device with a hooplike body member having a single integral spoke which extends across a diameter thereof and defines a handle member. The previously mentioned spaced control points and deformable wire securing means are located at the ends of the handle member. At the same time, the periphery of the hoop-like body member carries a storage trough having flanged side Walls which extend completely thereabout in order to define a spool for the storage of the two control wires when they are not in use. In conjunction with this spool structure, a radial slit is formed in one of the side wall flanges frictionally to retain the control wires against displacement during storage. In this manner I provide, in combination with a control handle, an eflicient storage device or spool of minimal fabrication cost and of compact design.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination control handle and storage spool with structure for rotating the spool to wind in the control lines after use. To this end, the center of the handle member is pierced by a laterally extending circular aperture having a rotatable bearing member journaled therein. Additionally, the bearing member is made hollow in order to bound a large circular opening in which a dowel or one finger of a the hand may be accommodated while the body member manually is rotated about the bearing with a finger of the other hand. Thus, no expensive and complex wind-up wheels or rotatable handle members need be provided, yet the same function of providing a winding-type storage spool is served.

Other advantages and objects of my invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front view of the combination control handle and storage spool showing the hoop-like construction thereof together with the single integral spoke which eX- tends across a diameter to define a handle member, the hand of an operator being shown in dashed outline to indicate the'function of the handle member;

Fig. 2 is a partial section view, taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the rotatable bearing member which is journaled in the center of the handle member and indicating the spaced disposition of the two lateral snouts which carry the control wires;

Fig. 3 is a side view, with the hand of an operator again shown in dashed outline as it grips the control device, this figure better illustrating the structure of the storage trough or spool and the flanged side walls whereby provision is made to store the two control Wires when they are not in use;

Fig. 4 is a cross section detail, taken substantially on the line 4-=iof Fig. 1, showing the radial slit which is formed in one side wall flange of the storage spool so as to retain the control wires against displacement during storage;

Fig. 5 is a detail of one end of a typical control wire with the U-shaped retention tube encircling a bight formed in the wire; and

Fig. 6 is a further detail with the U-shaped retention tube positioned within an enlarged recess formed in the handle and with the control wire encircling the retention tube and pulling thereon, the tube itself being shown after deformation.

The instant invention is directed to a control handle and storage spool per se rather than in combination with a captive-type miniature airplane. Accordingly, I have not shown an airplane in the drawing. Sufiice to say, however, the two spaced control lines 7 and 8 which are shown in the drawing may have a total length of fifty feet or more. At the far end, these lines are joined to the adjustable control surfaces, such as the elevators, of a miniature airplane, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Thus, when the control handle is tilted or rotated, one or" the control lines is shortened with respect to the other and the control surfaces of the miniature airplane are manipulated to vary the flight pattern.

Turning now to the novel elements of the instant invention, I provide a hoop-like body member 9, having a single integral spoke i which extends across a diameter of the body member to define a handle member. I employ the term hoop-like because, as shown in Fig. l, the body member 9 resembles a hoop. Similarly, the term spoke is employed because the handle it? resembles a spoke in Fig. 1. The handle member 19 is contoured, as indicated at 11 in Fig. 2, to define a hand grip portion. Further, the lateral margins of the handle member are spaced from the inner surface of the encompassing body member 9 so the hand and fingers of an operator can grip the handle in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This same spacing accommodates a finger when the body member is rotated to wind in the control lines.

At the opposite ends of the handle member 19, I prefer to form a mated pair of lateral snouts T12 and 13 which together spaced control points for the control wires 7 and 3. As shown in Fig. 2, each of these snouts protrudes laterally to the plane of the hoop-like body member 9 is pierced by an elongated lateral tunnel and provided with a hollow bore which extends completely through the handle member 1! and terminates in an enlarged recess 25. Thus, inspecting the control line 7 as exemplary, it will be seen in Fig. 6 that a terminal bight i7 is formed therein and is secured within the corresponding enlarged recess 15/ in this manner, the end of each control line is accommodated within a corresponding one of the snouts and tunnels or bores so as to resist a strong pulling force such as generated when a cap- 4 tive-type miniature airplane is flying at high speed under the control of the lines.

Referring now to the details of the structure by which each control line is secured within a corresponding one of the tunnels or bores 14 and recesses 15, Figs. 5 and 6 are pertinent. As shown in the former figure, a U-shaped retention tube 16 encircles the bight portion 17 of the control wire. In accord with one advantage of my invention, this retention tube 16 is deformable in nature, a thin aluminum tube being exemplary, and the overall width of the tube is greater than the width of the corresponding lateral tunnel or hollow bore 14 to prevent movement of the tube and the control line through the tunnel or bore when a strong pulling force is exerted thereon. Initially, the wire 7 is threaded through the tunnel or bore 14 and through the deformable tube 16. Thereafter, the tube itself is crushed with a pair of pliers or in a vice and then is seated flush within the recess 15. Such a strong retention structure is a necessity because, as the miniature airplane is flown, a very strong pulling force is exerted upon the control line or wire 7. Thus, the deformation and the bight in the line assure a tight retention of the control line within the recess 15 with out employing knots or other fastening structure. Further, the end of the wire is not exposed as it would be if nails or screws were employed. That is to say, the control lines 7 and 8 conventionallyare formed from seven-strand steel wire of small diameter so as to possess suflicient strength to resist the strong pull exerted by a miniature airplane in flight yet so as to have a minimal wind resistance. One disadvantage evident when such a wire is utilized is that the ends thereof are jagged and sharp. Thus, the wire is diflicult to secure and to hold in conventional manner. For these reasons, I deem the novel securing structure above described to be an important part of the instant invention.

Returning now, by comparison, to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the periphery of the hoop-like body member 9 is provided with a storage trough 18 having flanged side walls 19 which extend completely thereabout so as to define a storage space or spool for the two control wires 7 and 8 when the latter are not in use. Additionally, a radial slit 20 (see Figs. 1 and 4) is formed in one side wall flange of the spool in order frictionally or loosely to engage and retain the control wires against displacement during storage. This slit also serves to position the wires initially when they are being wound in.

As a further important feature of my invention, Figs. 1 and 2 indicate the manner in which the center of the handle member 16 is pierced by a laterally extending circular aperture 21 having a rotatable bearing member 22 journaled therein. The center of the bearing member 22 is hollow and is of suflicient size to accommodate a finger, a dowel, or the like when the body member 9 is to be rotated with respect to the bearing member 22. Thus, no separate wind-up wheel or handle need be employed when the control lines 7 and 8 are to be wound about the storage spool 18.

In use, the flight pattern of a captive-type miniature airplane is limited by and is controlled with the control lines 7 and 8 which extend outwardly from the snouts l2 and 13 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. During flight, of course, it is of critical importance that the ends of the control lines 7 and 8 remain secure within the corresponding U-shaped tubes 16. Even a slight shift or give of one wire may be suflicient to cause the airplane to crash' A delicate and exact control of the flight pattern is possible because of the manner in which the handle member 18 accommodates the fingers and hand of an operator as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

When it is desired to wind in and store the control lines 7 and 8, the hand is removed from about the handle member 10. Thereafter, the two control lines 7 and 8 are brought together and threaded through the radial slit .0. To begin a winding operation, a wooden dowel, one

finger of the operator, or some similar means is inserted through the hollow opening in the bearing member 22. The entire control handle then is turned at right angles to the position of Figs. 2 and 3 so the control lines will reel about the storage spool 18. The hoop-like body member 9 then is rotated with respect to the bearing member 22 by inserting one finger of the other hand into the space between the handle and spool and describing a circular movement therewith. At the termination of a typical winding operation, the control lines 7 and 8 wiii be carried in the storage trough 18 as indicated in Fig. When thus stored, there is little likelihood that the control lines will tangle up, become kinked, or become displaced during storage. Further, as now should be evident, the entire control handle and storage device is designed and constructed with a view toward simplicity in order that it can be manufactured and sold at a minimal cost.

I claim:

1. A control handle, comprising a hoop-like body member having a single integral spoke extending across a diameter thereof and defining a handle member, said handle member being contoured to define a hand grip and the margins thereof being spaced from the inner surface of the encompassing body member to accommodate the hand and fingers of an operator about the said hand grip, a mated pair of snouts protruding laterally to the plane of said body member one from each end of said handle member and together defining spaced control points, each of said snouts having an elongated tunnel which extends through said handle member and terminates in an enlarged recess, each of said tunnels carrying an elongated control wire having a terminal bight secured within the corresponding enlarged recess.

2. A control handle for use with a captive-type miniature airplane, comprising a hoop-like body member with a handle member, said handle member having a circular aperture with a rotatable bearing member journaled therein, a mated pair of snouts protruding one from each end of said handle member, each of said snouts having an elongated tunnel which extends through said handle member and terminates in an enlarged recess, an elongated control wire reeved through each of said tunnels and having a terminal bight secured within the corresponding enlarged recess, a U-shaped grip member frictionally engaging the bight portion of each control Wire and having an overall width greater than the width of the corresponding tunnel to prevent movement of the grip member and wire through the tunnel when a strong pulling force is exerted on the end of the wire.

3. A control handle and spool, comprising a hoop-like body member having a single integral spoke extending across a diameter thereof and defining a handle member, said handle member being contoured to define a hand grip and the margins thereof being spaced from the inner surface of the encompassing body member to accommodate the hand and fingers of an operator about the said hand grip, the center of said handle member having a circular aperture with a rotatable bearing member journaled therein, a mated pair of lateral snouts protruding one from each end of said handle member, each of said snouts having an elongated tunnel which extends through said handle member and terminates in an enlarged recess, each said tunnel carrying an elongated control Wire having a terminal bight secured within the corresponding enlarged recess, and a U-shaped deformable retention tube encircling the bight portion of each control wire and having an overall width greater than the width of the corresponding tunnel to prevent movement of the Wire through the tunnel when a strong pulling force is exerted thereon, the periphery of said hoop-like body member defining a storage spool for the two control wires.

4. A control handle and storage spool, comprising a hoop-like body member having a handle member which is contoured to define a hand grip, the center of said handle member having a rotatable bearing member journaled therein, said bearing member being hollow and bounding a large circular opening means for accommodating a finger or the like while the body member manually is rotated about the bearing, a mated pair of tapered snouts protruding one from each end of said handle member, each of said snouts having an elongated tunnel which extends through said handle member and terminates in an enlarged recess, each of said tunnels carrying one of a pair of elongated control wires reeved with terminal bights which are secured within the corresponding enlarged recess, a U-shaped deformable retention tube encircling the bight portion of each control wire within the corresponding enlarged recess and having an overall width greater than the width of the corresponding lateral tunnel to prevent movement of the wire through the tunnel when a strong pulling force is exerted upon the wire, the periphery of said hoop-like body member having a storage trough with flanged side walls extending completely thereabout to store the two control wires when they are not in use, and a radial slit means formed in one side wall flange of said trough frictionally to retain said control wires against displacement during storage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,897 Bradner Nov. 26, 1889 1,031,360 Miller July 2, 1919 1,298,898 Collier Apr. 1, 1919 1,720,272 Harris July 9, 1929 1,983,565 Replogle Dec. 11, 1934 2,101,681 Josephs Dec. 7, 1937 2,250,281 Sundstrand July 22, 1941 2,573,219 Pursell Oct. 30, 1951 

